Stone Mage: Revenge of the Villain System

Ronin quickly set to work with the sounds of sword clanging with other weapons behind him.

Mavretri was doing quite well for a Commoner, though his dramatic flair also helps keep someone off-guard.

‘I have some dramatic flair prepared as well.’

Ronin smirked as he cut ropes using the pointy edge of the five wooden pegs he took with him. He used the shovel to dig some small and shallow holes in the ground.

During his time studying in the library, he has read books about knot-tying….

And trap-setting.

He estimated distances easily with his tiny eyes that were trained well by observing his mind-reading skills with Belladonna. He closed one eye, and placed a thumb in front of him.

“Great, that’s five meters.” He slammed the peg to the ground beside him, and quickly tied the end of a rope.

He continued doing this while Mavretri was busy duelling. Ronin tied nooses and slung them on branches of a tree, then tied them on pegs again. He repeated this in a particular order.

Once done, he took a twig lying around to etch a marking on the trees and the ground beside the pegs.

It was a rune.

The symbol was just a circle, with a small line at the top. It resembled a noose. This was the symbol for ‘rope’, ‘snare’ or…._.

Trap.

Mavretri turned around to check on him and was surprised by the sudden change in the layout of the garden. “What is this clever boy up to?”

But he did not waste too long wondering about this. He knows what Ronin needed was a distraction and these two nobles must never see the ropes and pegs he set about.

Mavretri swish his sword flamboyantly and yelled. “Fear for I am the Knight with legs like a feline, swift and majestic!”

The nobles: ….. ….. …

“Let’s just kill this Commoner, I am tired of his games!”

But before they could do so….

Fog crept into the air, coming from behind Mavretri and Ronin. It made the air heavy and humid, making it difficult to breathe and see.

“What is happening? Why is there a fog!?” One noble with a scar on his eye complained.

A fog in the middle of the summer only meant one thing to Ronin.

He muttered with a grin. “Good job, Bella. Perfect timing.”

He ran up to Mavretri as the fog started to envelop those two. He tugged at his shirt and gestured to move backwards, and Mavretri followed his lead.

As they slowly moved back, Ronin carefully did not let the ‘knight of the Zafeiri’ step his foot on the traps he set. Then, he pulled Mavretri to hide behind a tree with him.

“Where did that Commoner man and child go???” The other noble, this one with a large nose that looked more like a beak, exclaimed.

“Stay quiet, Mavretri.” Ronin whispered. “I’ll take it from here.”

“Are you sure, young master— Oh, right.” Mavretri covered his own mouth.

Ronin slowly stood up. It’s showtime.

“Oh, dear! The spectres of the past have arrived!” He exclaimed.

“Spectres?” The nobles repeated in confusion, unable to find the small boy from this thick fog.

He smirked, speaking in a creepy tone. “The ghosts of the Zafeiri ancestors, who had long existed and expired after living their lives in this house. Generations upon generations, awakened once more…”

“To punish those who ruined the peace of their home.”

The nobles were unsettled by the boy’s voice and tone, but they remained skeptical. “What ghosts!? You are just spouting nonsense, and now we’ll be able to find you by following the sound of your voice!”

‘Follow me, then.’ Ronin taunted in his head.

“I am not jesting. I saw dark shadows, and the sound of the aggrieved dukes and duchesses that used to live here.” Ronin said, luring one of them to come near him.

“Well, here is the sound of the aggrieved for ya.” The one with the scar holding some kind of baton said. “I found you, you little Coal shi— Ahhh!”

“Frankfurt!” The other with a beak-like nose exclaimed.

But his friend was now hanging in the air upside down!

“Help! I’m by the tree!”

His companion’s eyes go wide. “How did you get there!?”

“I warned you. The ancestors dislike having their peace threatened.” Ronin said grimly. “And now, you may feel their wrath.”

“Stop playing games, boy! Where are you— Ahh!”

‘That’s two pigs tied up.’ Ronin grinned.

The nobles did not know how they were suddenly grabbed by an invisible force and were floating high in the air. The fog helped a lot to make this possible.

Ronin approached them. “The ancestors would like to speak with you both, using my body as a vessel.”

He acted like he was convulsing, and then suddenly…..

“This boy is right. It is I, Duke Toril of House Zafeiri, who have commanded my brethren to capture you both.”

“T-The ghost possessed the boy!” The one named Frankfurt exclaimed in fear.

“You have caused much damage to our house. Even going so far as stealing the marker that was used to build the very foundation of this premises.”

“The prince of Scirocco!” The other one recalled. “It was him who stole it, not us!”

“Then that prince is to blame. However, you two young ones have also brought much trouble to our abode.”

“Forgive us!” Frankfurt begged. “Please forgive us, I still have a child and family!”

“And so do we. The Zafeiri is our descendants and family.” This ‘Duke Toril’ said. “If you want forgiveness…”

“Then run. Run and tell your brethren to never return.”

“We will! We will! I, Bologna of House Perdot, swear by my mother’s grave never to set foot in your land again!”

Ronin smirked wider at this and whispered to Mavretri. “Cut the ropes.”

The butler did slice the ropes with his sword in one strike…

And the two fell to the ground with a thump!

“Thank you! Thank you for sparing us!” Frankfurt bowed again and again to empty air.

“You may now go. Run and never return.”

They did, yelling to their other comrades: “Ghosts! There are ghosts summoned by the Sciroccan prince for stealing the marker for this house! Run for your lives!!!”

Now, if this was a modern setting, it definitely wouldn’t work in real life.

But since this is a medieval fantasy where nobles were not just known for being stupid but also superstitious, it was the perfect plan.

After seeing that fog that came out of nowhere, the frightened victims, and the reasoning for the ghosts’ appearance, the other two ran as well, dragging the unconscious one with them.

“Now that’s a future Lord of Deception in the making.” Ronin praised himself.

He whistled with the shovel in hand to retrieve Belladonna, but as he opened the toolshed door…..

She was gone.